Tandem wheeled roller skate

ABSTRACT

Tandem wheeled roller skates having braking means operable against the hubs of a pair of the wheels in tandem. When at least two pairs of wheels are mounted in line in tandem a separate brake is mounted on a front pair and another brake is mounted on the rear pair in order that braking pressure can be varied or applied uniformly in unison. The brake can be applied by the wearer of the skate by merely stooping and adjusting the head of a tightening nut.

United States Patent Kukulowicz 1 1 Aug. 19, 1975 [541 TANDEM WHEELEDROLLER SKATE 3,287,023 11/1966 Ware 280/1122 3,823,952 7 1974 K k 1 n281) 1.2 [76] Inventor: Adolph F. Kukulowicz, m Parkway I H Forest Dr.,Apt. 801, Willowdale, Ontario Canada Primary E.\'uminerDavid Schonberg IAxsixlunt blraminer-Milton L. Smith 1 1 Filed? y I974 Artur/my, Agent,or Firm-K. M. Hill Appl. No.: 486,359

[52] US. Cl 280/112; 280/1122 [51] Int. Cl. A63c 17/14 [581 Field ofSearch .1 280/112, 1122, 11.23, 28()/7.13,11.1BT

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,559. 5/1927 Showers2811/1 1.2 UX

2,725,238 11/1955 Day 280/112 3,000,643 9/1961 Levin. 2811/1 1.2

3,008,725 11/1961 Stites 280/112 [57] ABSTRACT Tandem wheeled rollerskates having braking means operable against the hubs of a pair of thewheels in tandem, When at least two pairs of wheels are mounted in linein tandem a separate brake is mounted on a front pair and another brakeis mounted on the rear pair in order that braking pressure can be variedor applied uniformly in unison. The brake can be applied by the wearerof the skate by merely stooping and adjusting the head of a tighteningnut.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures TANDEM WIIICIiLIII) ROLLER SKA'I'F.

The present invention relates to tandem wheeled rol' ler skates. Inparticular the invention herein relates to an improvement in tandemwheeled roller skates that have for an object of use as sports equipmentthe par pose of employing them for exercising and strengthen ing thelegs.

PRIOR AR'I Prior methods of tightening the wheels have been known butthe construction herein contemplates an improvement which allows awearer to more easily manip' ulate the tightening feature.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in combination witha rigid supporting structure means whereby the resistance to rotation ofthe wheels or any one of the same may be varied and controlled throughthe agency of a large handoperable screw and a pair of bearing plates oneach pair of wheels as will be more fully explained hereinafter. theconstruction being such that whether a force is made to bear againstfree rotation by the tightening to be explained, or whether the wheelsare to be allowed to run free. in either case equal rigidity andprecision should obtain to the end, that skating may he learned andpractised for enjoyment or for exercise with optimum confidence that noloosening or mechanical failure will lessen or interrupt its use.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a tighteningmeans that allows both pairs or either pair of wheels to be easilydemohilized by a wearer of the skate while it is on his foot to permithim to easily walk with the skate without the wheels rolling.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view,and such others as may become ap parent from consideration of thisdisclosure and specification. the present invention consists of and ishereby claimed to reside in the inventive concept which is comprised.embodied, embraced or included in any method. construction, arrangementor combination of parts. or new use of any of the foregoing which mayherein he exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of suchconcept. reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the skate of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one pair of tandem wheels showing thehearing or pressure plates with bolt and tightening knob explodedtherefrom.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a pair of tandemwheels on the line 3- 3 of FIG. I. In drawings, like characterreferences designate identical parts in the several figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In order to first describe briefly the present invention in termsconsonant with the accompanying Claims and to identify the parts definedtherein. a tandem wheeled roller skate has been made wherein the wheelseollec tively designated II) are arranged in a single file andsubstantially centrally to the horizontal axis of the skate. theinvention being characterized in combining a supporting structuregenerally designated 12 consisting of a sole plate designated I4 andintended to comprise both the front and heel portions 16 and I8 thereof(FIG. I i and a pair of spaced apart and parallel wheel carrying platesgenerally designated 20, 2| secured at 22 to the sole plate andprojecting substantially at right angles thereto. Wheels II) are eachapertured as at 26 to surround the hub 28. A tire 30 is provided on eachwheel and is shown in axial cross-section (FIG. 2) to be generallycircular with rounded edges for smooth run ning characteristics.

The hub 28 of each wheel I0, projects from the wheel to present a smoothdisc shaped surface I3 on either side of; each wheel. liach disc I3 iscoplanar with an adjacent plate an inner hub 35 projects out wardly fromboth sides of each wheel beyond the plane of the outer surface of thediscs I3 but less than the distance of the spaced apart plates 20, 2].Each wheel is mounted on a nut and bolt assembly designated 38, 39projecting through main hublt'l and inner hub 35. Bolt 39 acts as. theaxle for a wheel I0, which is free running thereon.

The invention herein devised comprises a tandem wheeled roller skate 80having a plurality of wheels I0 arranged in single Iile substantiallycentrally of and along the length of a foot support platform 70.

The skate has a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart frameplates 21, 22 projecting downwardly substantially at right angles fromthe platform 70 and attached thereto to form a rigid structure therewith. There is a hub assembly 28 for each wheel It). and a tire 30surrounds each hub assembly 28. An axle means 39 is provided for eachwheel and passes through the hub assembly 28 and through apertures 75,76 provided through the pair of frame plates 2|, 22. A nut 38 and bolthead 77 are provided to secure each axle between the frame plates witheach wheel and hub assembly thereof free running therebetween.

The pressure brake plate SI extends between a pair of the tandem wheelsand has at least two annuli formed therein whereby one annuli isfittable over an axle ofone wheel and the other is fittable over theaxle of said other pair of wheels to allow the wheels to rotate freelywhen the brake plate 5| is positioned between the frame plate 2] and thehub assembly 28 of the wheel. A disc surface I3 is formed with hub 28and extends outwardly of each wheel. surrounding each hub assemblyco-planar with the annuli I3 of each brake plate. A largefinger-manipulatable nut head 44 is pro vided substantially midway ofthe brake plate SI between a pair of wheels and is adapted to bearagainst the plate SI to bend it inwardly against the disc surface I3 ofthe wheel hub 28 thereby to induce braking pressure to the wheels.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The hubs 28 are each provided with the shown ballbearing assembly 42. The annuli S0 in the brake plate SI free running onaxle 39 surround hub 36 on each side of each wheel. The screw-threadedset screws 44 have an extension knob 45 internally threaded to mate withbolt 46. The head 47 of bolt 46 and knob 45 both pass freely through theframe plates 20, 21 at apertures 48, 49 respectively.

The inner face of bolt head 47 and the inner face S6 of knob 44 biteinto the mid portion of the brake plates SI 6] as shown in FIG. 3flexing the brake plates as shown. In the flexed position as shown inthe drawings the brake plates 51, 6I bear against the wheel hubs I3 atareas 62, 63 and 64. 65 respectively. Although the brake plates SI, 61are loose between the wheel and the frame plates 21, 22, they remainsatisfactorily centered in virtue of the fact that the end extremitiesof the hub 28 protrude and thereby occupy a portion of the thickness ofthe brake plates provided by the central hubs 3S surround axle receivingapertures 26, therein as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

From all the foregoing it will be apparent that when the nut 44 istightened, the brake plates 5|. 6| will move imperceptably toward eachother and against the hub disc faces to increase the friction actingtherein and such pressure may be varied and controlled considerablyaccording to the extent to which the nut 44 is tightened. The head 44 ofthe tightening means is made sufficiently large so that a skate wearercould easily stoop to vary the pressure of the brakes against the wheelswithout removing the skate.

In this way it will readily be appreciated that the present inventionprovides means whereby the legs of hockey players may be subjected tohighly efficacious strengthening exercise and one which is identicalwith that for which their leg muscles are being strengthened. namely theplaying of hockey on saktes.

To avoid the necessity of a wearer of the present invcntion having tochange into ordinary street shoes after using the skate he can tightenthe nut 44 fully to completely immobilize the wheels and thereby allowhim to walk in normal step-by-step fashion as though wearing boots.

In FIG. 1, the platform 70 to which the skate is fitted is the sole of aboot. but the platform could be made with straps and the like to fit thenormal shoe or boot of a wearer where the purpose of the skate was to befor mere play rather than as an alternative to ice skates for exercisingthe legs. A hockey player could use the present invention to keep hislegs in shape between hockey seasons regardless of whether there was anice rink available to him at the time since the skate herein devised canbe used on any hard, smooth surface.

Various modifications may be made to the invention described and bewithin the scope of the concept disclosed. It is intended. therefore.that the foregoing disclosure shall be considered as illustrative ofsuch concept and not as limiting the protection sought to any particularembodiment thereof.

I claim:

I. A tandem-wheeled roller skate having a plurality of wheels arrangedin single file substantially centrally of and along the length of a footsupport platform comprising in combination:

A pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart frame plates projectingdownwardly substantially at right angles from said platform and attachedthereto to form a rigid structure therewith;

A hub assembly for each wheel;

A tire surrounding each hub assembly;

An axle means for each whee] projecting through said hub assembly andthrough aperture provided through said pair of frame plates;

Means to secure each axle between said frame plates with each wheel andhub assembly thereof free running therebetween;

At least one pressure brake plate extending between a pair of saidwheels and having at least two annuli formed therein whereby one annuliis fittable over an axle of one wheel and the other is fittable over theaxle of said other pair of wheels to allow said wheel to rotate freelywith said brake plate positioned between said frame plate and said hubassembly of said wheel;

A disc surface provided outwardly of each wheel surrounding each hubassembly co-planar with the annuli of said brake plate; Means providedsubstantially midway of said brake plate between said pair of wheelsadapted to bear against said plate to bend it inwardly against said discsurface of said wheel hub assembly thereby to induce braking pressure tosaid wheels.

1. A tandem-wheeled roller skate having a plurality of wheels arrangedin single file substantially centrally of and along the length of a footsupport platform comprising in combination: A pair of longitudinallyextending spaced apart frame plates projecting downwardly substantiallyat right angles from said platform and attached thereto to form a rigidstructure therewith; A hub assembly for each wheel; A tire surroundingeach hub assembly; An axle means for each wheel projecting through saidhub assembly and through aperture provided through said pair of frameplates; Means to secure each axle between said frame plates with eachwheel and hub assembly thereof free running therebetween; At least onepressure brake plate extending between a pair of said wheels and havingat least two annuli formed therein whereby one annuli is fittable overan axle of one wheel and the other is fittable over the axle of saidother pair of wheels to allow said wheel to rotate freely with saidbrake plate positioned between said frame plate and said hub assembly ofsaid wheel; A disc surface provided outwardly of each wheel surroundingeach hub assembly co-planar with the annuli of said brake plate; Meansprovided substantially midway of said brake plate between said pair ofwheels adapted to bear against said plate to bend it inwardly againstsaid disc surface of said wheel hub assembly thereby to induce brakingpressure to said wheels.